Raw cashews?

[Jeannine]

I've read that cashews are soaked and steamed to get the shells off. Are there any raw cashews? How would you be able to tell, by sprouting it?

Thanks,
Jeannine

[Rawmommie]

If you do a search you will find conflicting opinions on cashews. Yes, they are heated to get the shell out. Many raw foodist have sprouted them and feel that if they sprout, then the heat must not have damaged the enzymes.

The important thing is how your body responds to them. Raw cashews don't give me a headache like roasted one's, and I have no ill effects from them (other than I can eat WAY too many at one sitting! LOL) so I feel they are ok for me to eat. You'll have to see how your body reacts! :)

[Pierre]

I have a bunch of in-shell cashews in the freezer; they came with marañones. How do I get the cashews out of the shells?

[Rawkinlocs]

If you do a search you will find conflicting opinions on cashews. Yes, they are heated to get the shell out. Many raw foodist have sprouted them and feel that if they sprout, then the heat must not have damaged the enzymes.

The important thing is how your body responds to them. Raw cashews don't give me a headache like roasted one's, and I have no ill effects from them (other than I can eat WAY too many at one sitting! LOL) so I feel they are ok for me to eat. You'll have to see how your body reacts! :)

Ditto what Rawmommie said! :D (btw, nice new avatar, Karen!)

[Rawmommie]

Why thank you kindly Cherie!! :D

[Davylp25]

Hey...

I just ordered some Raw Cashews from Wolf's site. Heres what it says...

Sunfood Nutrition™ is North America's only distributor of certified organic TRULY RAW CASHEWS! Our contact for these cashews works directly with small-scale organic cashew growers in Bali, Indonesia to develop both ecological sustainability for their fragile volcanic soils and economic viability from this beautiful product.

The cashews are handpicked from organically certified trees. The nuts are then “cracked” open with traditional knives and hand-polished to remove the thin skin protecting the kernel. The result is a raw cashew kernel so incredibly sweet, soft and white that you simply won’t believe your tastebuds!

This traditional hand-processing is a labor of love that has nearly disappeared around the globe. Traditional producers on average can only prepare 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of raw kernels daily. But the flavor difference between raw and conventionally processed cashews is unmistakable.

Experience the difference in taste and quality!

16 oz. bag

NOTE: This product is 100% RAW. Absolutely no steam or other form of heat has been used to shell our cashews for the sake of increasing production.

This product is also fairly and ethically traded. The farmers are paid premium prices for these raw cashews because of the time and effort involved. In keeping with our mission, we are proud to support these farmers and their communities through our purchase and distribution of this unique product.

[Jeannine]

Wow, thanks Davy! I've bookmarked that page. I was actually expecting them to be more expensive than that. I think I paid $9.95 for just plain old organic. :)

Pierre be careful if you do find a way to shell those yourself. That inner lining is harsh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashew
"The urushiol must be removed from the dark green nut shells before the seed inside is processed for consumption; this is done by shelling the nuts, a somewhat hazardous process, and exceedingly painful skin rashes (similar to poison-ivy rashes) among processing workers are common."

~Jeannine

[Davylp25]

Hey...

No Probs... They're veddy good. N joy if you get them.